Magazine latching means



March 6, 1956 E. M. HARVEY 2,736,977

MAGAZINE LATCHING MEANS Filed April 17, 1953 INVENTOR. u A :1- 56EnrleMl-Iu'nve 4o Y l/[IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII a"nu'nnnulnnun"Invunl/ 5 Q45 4- J 4&1-

2,735,977 Patented Mar. 6, 1956 MAGAZINE LATCHING MEANS Earle M. Harvey,Agawam, Mass., assignor to the United States of America as representedby the Secretary of the Army Application April 17, 1953, Serial No.349,579

4 Claims. (CI. 42-50) (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), sec.266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by orfor the Government for governmental purposes without the payment of anyroyalty thereon.

This invention relates to firearms of the type wherein the cartridgesare fed from a replaceable magazine and relates more particularly tomeans for releasably latching the magazine to the firearm.

In firearms embodying a box-type magazine, a latching mechanism isprovided for releasably retaining the magazine within the firearmstructure. It is conventional in firearms of such type for the magazineto be latched either at one position or at two positions by separatelatches. Where the magazine is latched at only one position, it canreadily be seen that the magazine is subject to tilting or camming whichmight interfere with the proper feeding of the cartridges from themagazine. In the firearms provided with a latching system which latchesthe magazine at both front and rear by separate latching devices, themagazine is conventionally installed by engaging one of the latches withthe magazine and then fully inserting the magazine into the weapon witha rotary motion for engagement with the other latch. The magazine isremoved with a reverse rotary motion. These motions are convenient inmagazine installation and removal but they require a large clearancebetween the front and the rear of the magazine and the magazinereceiving passageway through which dust, water and other foreign mattermay enter the weapon.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide for automaticfirearms a magazine latch system by which the magazine is insertableinto the firearm in a straight vertical motion and thereby permits acloser relationship between the magazine and the magazine receivingpassageway.

It is another object of this invention to provide positive mechanicallatching at both the front and the rear of the magazine.

' It is a further object of this invention to provide a means ofunlatching the front and the rear latches simultaneously by a singleconvenient handle.

It is a still further object of this invention toprovide a magazinelatching system in which the handle means is cooperable with the firearmtrigger guard when in open winter-trigger position to assist in theunlatching of the magazine.

The specific nature of the invention as well as other objects andadvantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferredembodiment as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

'Fig. 1 is a side view of a trigger housing and magazine guard partiallycross-sectioned showing a magazine retained therein by the latchingmechanism of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the magazine guard;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal crosssectional view ofthe rear latch;

Fig. .4 is ,a view taken along line 4.1-4 of Big. 1 without themagazine; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal cross- Sflctibnal view ofthe front latch.

Shown in the figures is a trigger housing 9 having spaced-apartlongitudinal sides 12 and a base portion 13 therebetween. A triggerguard 14 is pivotally mounted to base portion 13 so as to swingdownwardly and forwardly therefrom to an open, winter-trigger position.Extending forwardly from trigger housing 9, and secured to the outsidesurfaces of sides 12 as by dovetail 17 and screw means, is asubstantially U-shaped magazine guard member 15 which cooperates withthe front end of trigger housing 9 to form a magazine receivingpassageway 16. Receivable in passageway 16 is a conventional box-typemagazine 20 having a rear latch receiving notch 21 and a front latchreceiving notch 22 provided, respectively, in the rear and front sidesthereof. Facing downwardly into notches 21 and 22 are conventionalengaging portions, 23 and 24, respectively.

A pair of oppositely disposed lugs 26, provided with laterally alignedholes 27, depend from the forward portions of'sides 12, and receivedtherebetween is a rear latch member having an approximately centraltransverse bore 31. A pin 32 is snugly received by bore 31 and isrotatably mounted in holes 27 to provide for pivotal movement of rearlatch 30 between an engaged and a disengaged position, in respect tomagazine 20;

That portion of rear latch 30 below bore 31 is formed as a handle 28which is operable by trigger guard 15 when in an open, winter-triggerposition; Protruding forwardly from the top portion of rear latch 30 isa nose portion 33 which is receivable by rear notch 21 when magazine 20is fully inserted in passageway 16. The lower side of nose portion 33 isprovided with a cam surface 34 whereby upward movement of magazine 20thereagainst during installation in passageway 16 moves rear latch 3,0to the disengaged position. The top side of nose portion 33. is providedwith an engaging surface 29 which cooperates with engaging portion 23 ofrear notch 21. Engaging surface 29 is arranged to incline forwardly anddownwardly when rear latch 30 is in either engaged or disengagedpositions to facilitate the movement of nose portion ,33 in and out ofrear notch 21. v Provided in the upper portion of rear latch 30 is alateral hole 25 and a cylindrical channel 35 which extends downwardlyfrom the top side thereof to provide communication between bore 31 andhole 25. A pin 36, having a segmental recess 37 approximately centralthereof, is received by hole 25 and projects outwardly from either sideof rear latch 30. A cylindrical detent member 38 and a coiledcompression spring 39 are received by channel 35 and are so arrangedthat detent 38 is receivable by recess 37 and spring 39 is compressedbetween pin 32 and detent 3 8 to resiliently bias detent 38 into recess37 whereby pin 32 is releasably maintained in rear latch 30. Theextending ends of pins 32 are received by a pair of oppositely disposedholes 40 in sides 12 of trigger housing 9. Holes 40 have a largerdiameter than pin 32 to permit limited pivotal movement of rear latch 30between the engaged and disengaged positions. The engaged position ofrear latch 30 is so arranged that when nose portion 33 is received inrear notch '21, engaging surface 29 is forwardly out of verticalalignment with pin 32. Thus, the downward pressure of engaging portion23 of rear notch 21 against engaging surfaces 29 of rear latch 30applies a torque to rear latch 30, to retain nose portion 33 in rearnotch 21.

Longitudinally arranged in base 13 is a cylindrical well 19 and receivedtherein is a plunger 41, engageable with the upper portion of rear latch30, and a coiled ,compression spring 42 which is compressed between theend of well 19 and plunger 41 to normally biasrear latch 30 to theengaged position.

The longitudinal sides of magazine guard are provided with intermediatearcuations 43 which extend inwardly, conforming to the contours ofmagazine 20, and extending forwardly therefrom is a magazine guardportion 44 of reduced width. Provided along one side of portion 44, andspaced equidistant from the lower side thereof, is an elongated opening45 which extends to midway of the front end of magazine guard 15 tocommunicate with the lower portion of a vertical slot 46. Provided oneither side of vertical slot 46 and above opening 45 are a pair ofoppositely disposed flanges 47 through which there is rotatably mounteda pin 48. Clearance grooves 49 aid installation of pin 48 in flanges 47.

Snugly mounted on pin 48 in slot 46 is a front latch member 50.Projecting rearwardly from the top portion of front latch 50 is a noseportion 51 having a cam surface 60 and an engaging surface 61 of similarconfiguration and purposes as cam surface 34 and engaging surface 29 onnose portion 33 of rear latch 30. A pin 52 is transversely mountedthrough the upper portion of front latch 50 and is receivable by asemi-cylindrical recess 53 in the front 'end of magazine guard 15. Theengagement of pin 52 with recess 53 limits the engaged position of noseportion 51 in passageway 16 and is so arranged that when nose portion 51is in engaged position, engaging surface 61 thereof is rearwardly out ofvertical alignment with pin 52.

A connector bar 55 links the lower portion of front latch 50 to theupper portion of rear latch 30 thus joining latches 50 and 30 forsimultaneous latching or disengaging of magazine in passageway 16.Connector 55 has a longitudinal portion which is received by opening 45and a clearance groove 65 which extends rearwardly therefrom along theinside wall of magazine guard 15. The forward portion of connector 55 isreceived within opening 45 and terminates in a portion 56 which projectslongitudinally forwardly and adjacent to the near side of front latch50. A hole 57 transverses portion 56 and rotatably receives a headedrivet 58 mounted laterally in the lower portion of front latch 50. Therear portion of connector 55 skirts passageway 16 and terminates in aportion 59 arranged adjacent to the near side of rear latch 30. Providedin portion 59 is a lateral hole 54 which receives an extending endportion of pin 36. Connector 55 is mounted on pin 36 before magazineguard 15 is assembled to trigger housing 9 as the inside wall ofmagazine guard 15 is arranged to block disengagement of connector 55from pin 36.

As has already been explained, latches and 50 are normally biased byspring 42 to engaged positions in passageway 16. When magazine 20 isslidably inserted in passageway 16, the engagement of the front and rearsides thereof with cam surfaces 60 and 34, pivot latches 50 and 30 todisengaged positions. When magazine 20 is fully installed in passageway16, nose portions 33 and 51 of latches 30 and 50 are received by theirrespective cooperating notches 21 and 22, with surfaces 29 and 61engaging portions 23 and 24. As surfaces 29 and 61 are positioned intopassageway 16 out of vertical alignment with the pivotal centers oflatches 30 and 50, provided by pins 32 and 48, the downward pressureexerted against magazine 20 during fire applies a torque to latches 30and 50 to urge nose portions 33 and 51 into their respective cooperatingnotches 21 and 22. Moreover, any increase in pressure against latches 30and 50 by magazine 20 increases the torque holding them in engagementtherewith. However, as latches 30 and 59 are resiliently maintained byspring 42 against their individual stopping means, pins 36 and 52, thepounding of magazine 20 during automatic fire is absorbed by pins 36 and52 with no portion of it being transmitted to or through connector 55.

With handle 28 located adjacent magazine 2%) and ar ranged to unlatchthe latching mechanism by forward pressure, it is readily apparent thatthe operator by grasping both magazine 20 and handle 28 in one hand, mayeasily unlatch and remove magazine 20 by tightening his grasp andpulling downwardly. Also, with handle 28 operable by trigger guard 22when in open winter-trigger position, the operator is given an addedfacility for removing magazine 20.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described indetail herein, it is evident that many variations may be devised withinthe spirit and scope thereof and the following claims are intended toinclude such variations.

I claim:

1. In a firearm having a magazine receiving passageway, a magazinereceivable in the passageway, said magazine being provided with a frontand a rear notch and downwardly facing engaging portions formed thereby,a front and a rear latch pivotally mounted in the firearm on transversepins and arranged to pivot between engaged and disengaged positions,said latches being provided with nose portions receivable in saidnotches when said latches are in said engaged position, said noseportions arranged to be retained in said notches by said latches througha torque produced therein by downward pressure of said engaging portionsagainst said nose portions, a connector mounted between said latches fortranslation of rotation of one of said latches to counterrotation of theother to provide simultaneous movement of said latches to said engagedor disengaged positions, spring means to normally bias said latches tosaid engaged positions, and handle means to move said latches to saiddisengaged positions.

2. In a firearm having a magazine receiving passageway, a magazinereceivable in the passageway, said magazine being provided with a frontand rear notch and downwardly facing engaging portion formed thereby, afront and a rear latch pivotally mounted in the firearm on transversepins for engaging cooperation with said notches and each of said latchesarranged to pivot between notch engaged and disengaged positions, meansto limit the movement of said latches to said engaged positions, noseportions projecting from the upper portions of said front and said rearlatches and arranged to be received by said notches, said nose portionsarranged to be so positioned out of vertical alignment with said pinsthat downward pressure of said engaging portions against said noseportions produces a torque in said latches whereby said latches securesaid nose portions against disengagement from said notches, a connectormounted between said latches for translation of rotation of one of saidlatches to counterrotation of the other to provide simultaneous movementof said latches to said engaged or disengaged positions, spring means tonormally bias said latches to said engaged positions, a handle to movesaid latches to said disengaged positions, and a trigger guard mountedto said trigger housing for pivotal movement between a closed positionand an open position wherein said trigger guard may operate said handle.

3. In a firearm, a trigger housing and a U-shaped magazine guardattached forwardly thereof to form a magazine receiving passagewaytherebetween, a magazine receivable in said passageway, said magazinebeing provided with a front and a rear notch and downwardly facingengaging portions formed thereby, a first pin mounted transversely inthe front portion of said magazine guard, av second pin mountedtransversely in the front portion of said trigger housing, a front and arear latch mounted on said pins for pivotal movement between engaged anddisengaged positions, nose portions projecting from the top portions ofsaid latches and adapted to be received by said notches when saidlatches are in said engaged position, cam surfaces provided on theunderside of said nose portions whereby said latches are cammed to saiddisengaged positions by movement of said magazine thereagainst whenbeing installed in said passageway, engaging surfaces provided on thetop gra er? side of said nose portions and arranged to engage saidengaging portions when said nose portions are received by said notches,a connector pivotally mounted at one end to said front latch below saidfirst pin and at the other end to said rear latch above said second pinfor simultaneous movement of said latches to said engaged or disengagedpositions, spring means biased against said rear latch to resilientlyurge said latches to said engaged positions and thereby normally retainsaid magazine in said passageway, said engaging surfaces are so relatedto said pins when said latches are in said engaged positions that atorque is produced in said latches when said engaging portions pressagainst said engaging surfaces whereby said nose portions are securedagainst disengage ment from said notches, stopping means to limit themovement of said latches to said engaged positions, a handle provided onsaid rear latch below said second pin for movement of said latches tosaid disengaged position, and a trigger guard mounted to said triggerhousing for pivotal movement between a closed position and an openposition wherein said trigger guard may operate said handle.

4. In a firearm, a trigger housing and a U-shaped magazine guardattached forwardly thereof to form a magazine receiving passagewaytherebetween, a magazine receivable in said passageway, said magazinebeing provided with a front and a rear notch, a front and a rear latchmounted in said magazine guard for pivotal movement between engaged anddisengaged positions, a first pin mounted transversely in the upperportion of said front latch, said pin being engageable with the frontside of said magazine guard to limit the movement of said front latch tosaid engaged position, a second pin mounted transversely in the upperportion of said rear latch and arranged to extend outwardly therefrom toform projecting ends, said projecting portions being received by a pairof oppositely disposed holes provided in said magazine guard, said holesbeing of greater diameter than said second pin whereby said rear latchis limited in movement between said engaged and said disengagedposition, nose portions projecting from said latches above the pivotalcenters thereof and arranged to be received by said notches when saidlatches are in said engaged positions, spring means to resiliently urgesaid latches to said engaged positions whereby said nose portions arebiased into said notches to normally retain said magazine in saidpassageway, said nose portions are secured against disengagement fromsaid notches by said latches through a torque produced therein bydownward pressure of said magazine against said nose portions, aconnector pivotally mounted at one end to said front latch below thepivotal center thereof and at the other end to one of said projectingends of said second pin, a handle to move said latches to saiddisengaged positions, and a trigger guard mounted to said triggerhousing for pivotal movement between a closed position and an openposition wherein said trigger guard may operate said handle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS989,560 Borchardt Apr. 18, 1911 1,821,385 Holek Sept. 1, 1931 1,835,715McCoy Dec. 8, 1931 1,878,039 Frommer Sept. 20, 1932

